Leopoldo Melo
Encyclopedia
Leopoldo Melo was an Argentine
lawyer, diplomat and politician. He was a leading figure in the Radical Civic Union
, a nominee for President, and later Minister of Internal Affairs.
, Entre Ríos Province
, in 1869. He enrolled at the University of Buenos Aires
and earned a Law Degree, later becoming an important leader in the centrist Radical Civic Union (UCR), the party chiefly responsible for the adoption of universal male suffrage
in Argentina, in 1912. He was elected to the Argentine Chamber of Deputies
for Entre Ríos Province in 1914 and to the Argentine Senate
in 1916. While in Congress, he taught at his alma mater's Law School, and was its Dean in 1920 and 1921.
Elected on the UCR ticket, Melo broke with longtime UCR leader Hipólito Yrigoyen
following the 1922 elections
, and formed the "Antipersonalist" UCR in 1924, becoming its caucus leader in the Senate and Provisional Senate President.
He secured his party's nominatation for the Presidency ahead of the 1928 election
, though voters' support for the state oil concern established by Yrigoyen during his first term, YPF, and nostalgia for the aging leader himself translated into a landslide defeat for Melo and his running-mate, Vicente Gallo
.
Following General José Félix Uriburu
's 1930 coup against President Yrigoyen, Melo endorsed the conservative candidate (and Uriburu's pick), General Agustín Justo, on the grounds that the UCR nominee, former President Marcelo Torcuato de Alvear
had been reunited with the Yrigoyen faction. Amid widespread irregularities, the Concordance formed by Melo and Justo won the 1931 elections
, for which Melo was rewarded with an appointment to the powerful post of Interior Minister
. Under his aegis the special branch of the Federal Police
was created, implementing a policy of systematic torture of opposition figures.
Melo was dismissed as Interior Minister in 1936. In 1939, he was named representative to the Pan-American Union, where he participated in a mutual defense treaty entered into by the United States and most of the other nations of the Americas in 1940 as a response to World War II.
Melo retired from politics and continued to teach commercial
and maritime law; he died in the seaside resort city of Pinamar
in 1951.
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
lawyer, diplomat and politician. He was a leading figure in the Radical Civic Union
Radical Civic Union
The Radical Civic Union is a political party in Argentina. The party's positions on issues range from liberal to social democratic. The UCR is a member of the Socialist International. Founded in 1891 by radical liberals, it is the oldest political party active in Argentina...
, a nominee for President, and later Minister of Internal Affairs.
Biography
Leopoldo Melo was born in DiamanteDiamante
- Argentina :* Diamante, Entre Ríos, a municipio in Diamante Department* Diamante Caldera, a volcanic caldera partly in the Province of Mendoza* Diamante River, a river in the Province of Mendoza* Laguna del Diamante, a lake in the Province of Mendoza...
, Entre Ríos Province
Entre Ríos Province
Entre Ríos is a northeastern province of Argentina, located in the Mesopotamia region. It borders the provinces of Buenos Aires , Corrientes and Santa Fe , and Uruguay in the east....
, in 1869. He enrolled at the University of Buenos Aires
University of Buenos Aires
The University of Buenos Aires is the largest university in Argentina and the largest university by enrollment in Latin America. Founded on August 12, 1821 in the city of Buenos Aires, it consists of 13 faculties, 6 hospitals, 10 museums and is linked to 4 high schools: Colegio Nacional de Buenos...
and earned a Law Degree, later becoming an important leader in the centrist Radical Civic Union (UCR), the party chiefly responsible for the adoption of universal male suffrage
Sáenz Peña Law
The Sáenz Peña Law was Law 8871 of Argentina, sanctioned by the National Congress on 10 February 1912, which established the universal, secret and mandatory male suffrage though the creation of an electoral list...
in Argentina, in 1912. He was elected to the Argentine Chamber of Deputies
Argentine Chamber of Deputies
The Chamber of Deputies is the lower house of the Argentine National Congress. This Chamber holds exclusive rights to create taxes, to draft troops, and to accuse the President, the ministers and the members of the Supreme Court before the Senate....
for Entre Ríos Province in 1914 and to the Argentine Senate
Argentine Senate
The Argentine Senate is the upper house of the Argentine National Congress. It has 72 senators: three for each province and three for the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires...
in 1916. While in Congress, he taught at his alma mater's Law School, and was its Dean in 1920 and 1921.
Elected on the UCR ticket, Melo broke with longtime UCR leader Hipólito Yrigoyen
Hipólito Yrigoyen
Juan Hipólito del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús Irigoyen Alem was twice President of Argentina . His activism became the prime impetus behind the obtainment of universal suffrage in Argentina in 1912...
following the 1922 elections
Argentine presidential election, 1922
The Argentine general election of 1922 was held on 2 April. With a turnout of 55.2%, it produced the following official results:-President: aAbstentions.-Argentine Chamber of Deputies:Notes: a) seats left vacant.-Argentine Senate:...
, and formed the "Antipersonalist" UCR in 1924, becoming its caucus leader in the Senate and Provisional Senate President.
He secured his party's nominatation for the Presidency ahead of the 1928 election
Argentine presidential election, 1928
The Argentine general election of 1928 was held on 1 April. With a turnout of 80.9%, it produced the following official results:-President: a) Parties nominating the Leopoldo Melo-Vicente Gallo ticket...
, though voters' support for the state oil concern established by Yrigoyen during his first term, YPF, and nostalgia for the aging leader himself translated into a landslide defeat for Melo and his running-mate, Vicente Gallo
Vicente Gallo
Vicente Gallo was an Argentine lawyer, academic and politician of the Radical Civic Union.-Life:Born in San Miguel de Tucumán, Gallo joined the Radical Civic Union from its inception, forming part of a group of young people who worked with Hipólito Yrigoyen in the mid-1890s to secure universal...
.
Following General José Félix Uriburu
José Félix Uriburu
General José Félix Benito Uriburu y Uriburu was the first de facto President of Argentina, achieved through a military coup, from September 6, 1930 to February 20, 1932.-Biography:...
's 1930 coup against President Yrigoyen, Melo endorsed the conservative candidate (and Uriburu's pick), General Agustín Justo, on the grounds that the UCR nominee, former President Marcelo Torcuato de Alvear
Marcelo Torcuato de Alvear
Máximo Marcelo Torcuato de Alvear Pacheco , better known as Marcelo T. de Alvear was an Argentine politician and President of Argentina from October 12, 1922 to October 12, 1928.-Biography:...
had been reunited with the Yrigoyen faction. Amid widespread irregularities, the Concordance formed by Melo and Justo won the 1931 elections
Argentine presidential election, 1931
The Argentine presidential election of 1931 was held on 8 November. With a turnout of 73.4%, it produced the following official results: aAbstentions.-Argentine Chamber of Deputies:-Argentine Senate:-Background:...
, for which Melo was rewarded with an appointment to the powerful post of Interior Minister
Interior minister
An interior ministry is a government ministry typically responsible for policing, national security, and immigration matters. The ministry is often headed by a minister of the interior or minister of home affairs...
. Under his aegis the special branch of the Federal Police
Policía Federal Argentina
The Policía Federal Argentina is a police force of the Argentine federal government. The PFA has detachments throughout the country, but its main responsibility is policing the Federal District of Buenos Aires...
was created, implementing a policy of systematic torture of opposition figures.
Melo was dismissed as Interior Minister in 1936. In 1939, he was named representative to the Pan-American Union, where he participated in a mutual defense treaty entered into by the United States and most of the other nations of the Americas in 1940 as a response to World War II.
Melo retired from politics and continued to teach commercial
Commercial law
Commercial law is the body of law that governs business and commercial transactions...
and maritime law; he died in the seaside resort city of Pinamar
Pinamar
Pinamar is an Argentine coastal resort town located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean in Buenos Aires Province. It has about 20,000 inhabitants as per the ....
in 1951.